Method and apparatus for efficiently delivering supplementary services to multi-technology capable wireless transmit/receive units

ABSTRACT

A wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU), method and system for efficiently handling various types of wireless services across multiple wireless access technologies for WTRUs that may operate in multiple types of networks is disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No.60/515,479 filed on Oct. 29, 2003, which is incorporated by reference asif fully set forth herein.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to wireless communication systems. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to delivery of services tomulti-technology capable wireless transmit/receive units.

BACKGROUND

Although the meanings of the following acronyms are well understood byskilled artisans, the following list is deemed to assist in a betterunderstanding of the invention:

3GPP third generation partnership project

AAA authentication, authorization, and accounting

AP access point

CCF charging control function

CSCF call state control function

EIR equipment identity register

GGSN gateway GPRS support node

GMSC gateway MSC

GPRS general packet radio system

GSM global system for mobile communication

HLR home location register

HSS home subscriber server

IP internet protocol

IWMSC interworking MSC for SMS

MMS multi-media services

MS mobile station

MSC mobile switching station

PDG packet data gateway

PHY physical layer

PDA personal digital assistant

SC service center

SIM subscriber identity module

SMS short messaging service

TCP transmission control protocol

UMTS universal mobile telecommunications system

VOLP voice over internet protocol

WAG wireless application gateway

WAT wireless access technology

WLAN wireless local area network

WTRU wireless transmit/receive unit

The trend in the wireless industry is to increasingly support wirelesstransmit/receive units (WTRUs) that support multiple Wireless AccessTechnologies (WATs) in heterogeneous networks. Network interworkingintroduces the possibility of several WATs (e.g., several differenttypes of wireless local area networks) such 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g,etc. being connected to a cellular type network (e.g., a UniversalMobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network). Further, usingsubscriber identity module (SIM) technology, users may switch their802.11b card to an 802.11a card, for example, or any other type ofmulti-mode card using their SIM to access the network while the networkis not totally aware of the WAT supported at the WTRU level.Additionally, users may use their 802.11 cards, for example, indifferent types of WTRUs, such as when they obtain a new laptop orpersonal digital assistant (PDA), for example.

In light of the above, it is desirable to efficiently handle varioustypes of wireless services across multiple WATs for WTRUs that mayoperate in cellular and WLAN type networks.

SUMMARY

The present invention is a method and system for efficiently handlingvarious types of wireless services across multiple wireless accesstechnologies for WTRUs that may operate in different types of networks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a WTRU logical block diagram embodying the principles of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of steps involved in performing aregistration-based operation wherein a capability report is provided inaccordance with present invention.

FIG. 2A is a timeline illustration of the procedure illustrated in FIG.2.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of steps involved in performing anetwork-solicited operation wherein a capability report is provided inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a timeline illustration of the procedure illustrated in FIG.3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Hereafter, a WTRU includes, but is not limited to, a user equipment,mobile station, fixed or mobile subscriber unit, pager, PDA or any othertype of device capable of operating in a wireless environment. Whenreferred to hereafter, a base station includes but is not limited to aNode B, site controller, access point (AP) or any other type ofinterfacing device in a wireless environment.

FIG. 1 is a simplified logical block diagram of the layers provided in aWTRU 12, it being understood that a similar layered structure isprovided in the network. The objective is to convey the capabilities ofthe WTRU to the network so that the network can tailor the servicesprovided to the WTRU in accordance with the WTRU's capabilities. As anexample, devices such as a PDA, a laptop equipped with a wirelesscommunication card and a cell phone may all be capable of communicatingwith a WLAN, but each device has different capabilities. A laptoptypically has a larger memory and greater processing power that both aPDA and a cell phone. Different laptops may have different capabilities;one laptop being able to conduct video conferencing while another laptopbeing unable to support such services.

Referring to FIG. 2, a process for WTRU registration that includes thegeneration and transmittal of a capability report as shown, by combiningnotification of services supported by the WTRU with a registrationprocess, the network is then able to tailor the services provided to theWTRU communicating with the network. Each time a multi-WATs WTRU, alsoreferred to as a multi-technology WTRU (i.e., a WTRU capable ofoperating in more than one type of wireless network), successfullyregisters for service with an authentication, authorization andaccounting (AAA) server 16 of a 3GPP network 14 through WLAN accessnetwork 22, a WLAN application capability report is sent to the 3GPPnetwork 14 and preferably to the home subscriber server (HSS) 18.

With reference to FIG. 1, initially, the WTRU operating system 15, atstep (1), directs the registry application 13 to register the WTRU withthe network, for example, the WTRU register with the 3GPP networkthrough a WLAN. At step (2), the registry application generates andsends a capability report based on either information from the operatingsystem 15 or applications module 17 of the WTRU to include WLANapplications that interact with the 3GPP network, such as short messageservice (SMS)and voice over IP (VoIP), as well as any other currentlysupported applications. Drivers, such as a 3GPP driver 19 a and WLANdevice driver 19 b, as well as other drivers 19 c, support the servicesobtained from the network. The layers 13, 17, 15 and associated driversare also provided in the network to support registry, receipt andstorage of the capability report and, subsequent thereto, to provide theservices identified in the capability report obtained from the WTRU.

The WLAN capability report is preferably a list of all supported airinterface (PHY) capabilities currently supported by the WTRU 12 (e.g.,802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11x, 802.16, 802.20, UMTS-FDD, UMTS-TDD, TDSCDMA,GPRS, CDMA2000, or any other type of wireless network).

The WLAN capability report preferably also includes a list of allsupported applications/services currently supported by the WTRU (e.g.,web browsing, email, SMS, VoIP, or any other type of wireless service).The list of supported services can be associated with certain PHYcapabilities (e.g., 802.11b card with MMS service capabilities). Thelist may also indicate third generation (3G) interworking such as 3GPPand/or 3GPP2 (e.g., GPRS/802.11 dual-mode cards supporting GPRS basedSMS services) and/or other services developed in the future for existingor future networks. Optionally, the lists can identify the type andcapacity of equipment of the WTRU, i.e. whether the WTRU is a cellphone, lap top computer, etc. with memory and processing speedcapacities. The information regarding the device capability may bestored in the device drivers illustrated in FIG. 1.

The SMS message is preferably sent from a 3GPP network to a WTRU on an802.11 network that is displayed to a user. The lists described aboveare preferably standardized.

The WLAN capability report is generated by a “thin” application programfor generating the capability report. The “thin” application program canbe on top of the operating system (e.g., like a Windows® program) and,being “thin,” does not require thousands of lines of code, but requiresonly several hundred lines of code. For example, the “thin” program isprovided in the WLAN/3GPP application registry (AR) 13 in the WTRU 12shown in FIG. 1, wherein the network registry queries the WTRU'soperating system 15 or the applications module 17, to determine the listof relevant applications.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the capability report is preferably sentencrypted from the end user WTRU (currently on a WLAN) through WLANaccess network 22 to the 3GPP AAA server 16, which forwards the reportto the 3GPP HSS/HLR 18/20. The report is preferably sent encrypted viatransmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) from the WTRU12 on the WLAN to the 3GPP AAA server 16, at step (2), and the 3GPP AAAserver 16 then preferably forwards the report to the HSS 18 as part ofthe WLAN registration process, at step (3). The HSS/HLR 18/20 sends anacknowledgement (ACK) to the AAA 16, at step (4) which sends an ACK toWTRU 12 through WLAN network 22, at step (5).

Thereafter, whenever the HSS/HLR 18/20 is queried for the location andcapability of the user, a relevant check is made to determine if theuser's WTRU supports that capability in the WLAN network.

Referring to the top portion of FIG. 2, WLAN accesses network 22communicates with 3GPP AAA server 16 through a Wr/Wb interface. HSS 18and HLR 20 communicate with 3GPP AAA server 16 through interfaces Wx andD′/Gr′, respectively.

As indicated in parentheses in FIG. 2, the system components and stepsinvolved in performing a registration based operation are preferably:

1. WTRU 12 generates WLAN application capability report.

2. WTRU 12 transmits report via WLAN 22 to 3GPP AAA 16.

3. 3GPP AAA 16 forwards report to HSS/HLR 18/20.

4. HSS/HLR 18/20 acknowledges the report to AAA 16.

5. 3GPP 14 acknowledges the report to the WTRU 12 via WLAN 22.

Thereafter, any 3GPP node that attempts to deliver service to the WTRUin the WLAN network will check if the WTRU supports the service in WLANmode.

The timing of these steps is shown and described in greater detail inFIG. 2A, wherein a capability report is created at step S1, the WTRU 12generating a WLAN application capability report and, at step S2,transmitting the report to the 3GPP AAA server 16 through WLAN 22 (shownin FIG. 2). The 3GPP AAA 16, at step S3, forwards the report to HSS 18and HSS 18, at step S4, stores the report and, at step S5, acknowledgesthe report, sending an acknowledgement (ACK) to AAA 16. AAA Server 16,at step S6, sends an ACK to WTRU 12 through WLAN access network 22.Then, any 3GPP node that delivers service to the WTRU 12 in the WLANnetwork can first determine if the WTRU supports the service whenoperating in WLAN mode, by accessing HSS 18.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the system components are the same as thoseshown in FIG. 2. The preferred steps involved in performing anetwork-solicited capability operation, as indicated in parentheses inFIG. 3, can be summarized as follows:

1. SMS message is sent from SC 24.

2. GMSC 26 queries HSS 18 about WTRU 12 location.

3. HSS 18 returns PDG/WAG 28 address.

4. GMSC 26 forwards SMS to PDG/WAG 28.

5. PDG/WAG 28 queries the WTRU 12 via WLAN 22 about SMS capabilities.

6. WTRU 12 lists all service capabilities and reports to PDG/WAG 28.

If successful, PDG/WAG 28 delivers SMS to WTRU 12 through WLAN 22.

Timing of these steps is shown in FIG. 3A wherein a capability reporthas not previously been provided. In this embodiment, a short messagesystem (SMS) message is sent from service center (SC) 24 to a gatewayMobile Switching Center (MSC) or an interworking MSC for SMS(GMSC/IWSMC) 26, at step S1, and responsive thereto, GMSC/IWSMC 26, atstep S2, queries HSS 18 about the WTRU location. The HSS 18, at step(3), provides a packet data gateway or a wireless application gateway(PDG/WAG) address to the GMSC/IWSMC 26 and the GMSC/IWSMC 26, at stepS4, forwards the SMS message to the PDG/WAG 28. The PDG/WAG 28, at stepS5, queries the WTRU 12 (through WLAN access network 22 shown in FIG. 3)about its SMS capabilities and WTRU 12, at step S6, and through WLANaccess network 22, lists all service capabilities and provides a reportto the PDG/WAG 28. Then, if successful, the PDG/WAG 28, at step S7,delivers SMS to WTRU 12. If not successful, the PDG/WAG 28 deniesservice, at step S7A.

It should be noted that although the present invention has beendescribed in connection with an interworking 3GPP and WLAN, it isimportant to note that the present invention may be implemented in alltypes of wireless communication systems and further in any combination.

1. A method for providing services to a wireless transmit receive unit(WTRU) that is multi-wireless access technology capable (WAT-capable)comprising: sending an application capability report from the WTRU to awireless local area network (WLAN); transmitting from the WLAN saidreport to a cellular network; storing said report within the cellularnetwork; acknowledging receipt of said report by the cellular network tothe WTRU; and consulting the stored report in the cellular network todetermine if the WTRU supports a service when operating in a WLAN modeprior to attempting to deliver the service.
 2. The method of claim 1wherein: the WLAN transmits said report to an authentication,authorization, and accounting (AAA) server in the cellular network; thestoring said report within the cellular network includes forwarding saidreport within the cellular network to at least one of a home subscriberserver (HSS) and home location register (HLR); and the acknowledgingreceipt of said report by the cellular network to the WTRU includesacknowledging receipt of said report to the AAA server by the HSS or theHLR and reporting the acknowledgment by the AAA to the WTRU via theWLAN; and the consulting the stored report in the cellular networkincludes consulting the acknowledging HLR or HSS to determine if theWTRU supports a service when operating in a WLAN mode prior toattempting to deliver the service.
 3. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising sending said report during registration by the WTRU with thecellular network via the WLAN.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the WTRUsends an application capability report identifying services the WTRU cansupport selected from the group consisting of 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11c,802.11g, 802.11h.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the WTRU sends anapplication capability report identifying a type of equipment of theWTRU.
 6. The method of claim 2 wherein WTRU transmits said report to theAAA of a cellular network selected from the group consisting of GSM,3GPP, GPRS and UMTS.
 7. Apparatus for providing services to a wirelesstransmit receive unit (WTRU) that is multi-wireless access technologycapable (WAT-capable) comprising: the WTRU configured to send anapplication capability report to a wireless local area network (WLAN);the WLAN configured to transmit said report to a cellular network; thecellular network configured to store said report and to acknowledgereceipt of said report to the WTRU via the WLAN; and a service sourceconfigured to consult the stored report in the cellular network todetermine if the WTRU supports a service when operating in a WLAN modeprior to attempting to deliver the service.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7wherein: the WLAN is configured to transmit said report to anauthentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server in thecellular network; the cellular network is configured to forward saidreport within the cellular network to at least one of a home subscriberserver (HSS) and home location register (HLR) and to acknowledge receiptof said report to the AAA server by the HSS or the HLR and to report theacknowledgment by the AAA to the WTRU; and the service source isconfigured to consult the acknowledging HLR or HSS to determine if theWTRU supports a service when operating in a WLAN mode prior toattempting to deliver the service.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7 whereinthe WTRU is configured to generate and send said report duringregistration with the cellular network via the WLAN.
 10. The apparatusof claim 7 wherein the WTRU is configured to generate and send saidreport identifying services the WTRU can support selected from the groupconsisting of 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11c, 802.11g, 802.11h.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 7 wherein the WTRU is configured to generate and sendsaid report identifying the type of equipment of the WTRU.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 11 wherein the WTRU is of a type taken from a groupconsisting of a laptop, a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a cellphone.
 13. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the WTRU is configured togenerate and send said report during registration with a cellularnetwork selected from the group consisting of GSM, 3GPP, GPRS and UMTS.14. A method for providing services to a wireless transmit receive unit(WTRU) that is multi-wireless access technology capable (WAT-capable)comprising: determining a location of the WTRU by obtaining a packetdata gateway or wireless application gateway (PDG/WAG) address in acellular network in response to receiving a short message system (SMS)message for the WTRU by the cellular network; forwarding the SMS messageto a PDG/WAG having the determined address; sending a request from thePDG/WAG to the WTRU via a wireless local area network (WLAN) to provideSMS capabilities; responding to the request by the WTRU sending thePDG/WAG via the WLAN a SMS capabilities report; and delivering the SMSmessage to said WTRU through said WLAN where the report received by thePDG/WAG reflects that the WTRU supports the SMS message.
 15. A wirelesstransmit receive unit (WTRU) that is multi-wireless access technologycapable (WAT-capable) comprising: an application capability reportgenerator configured to a generate a report identifying services theWTRU can support via a wireless local area network (WLAN) to which it isconnected; and a transmitter configured to send a generated capabilityreport via a WLAN.
 16. The invention of claim 15 wherein the WTRU isconfigured to generate and send an application capability report duringregistration with a cellular network via a WLAN.
 17. The invention ofclaim 15 wherein the WTRU is configured to generate and send anapplication capability report identifying services the WTRU can supportselected from the group consisting of 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11c,802.11g, 802.11h.
 18. The invention of claim 15 wherein the WTRU isconfigured to generate and send an application capability reportidentifying the type of equipment of the WTRU.
 19. The invention ofclaim 18 wherein the WTRU is of a type taken from a group consisting ofa laptop, a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a cell phone.
 20. Theinvention of claim 15 wherein the WTRU is configured to generate andsend an application capability report during registration with acellular network selected from the group consisting of GSM, 3GPP, GPRSand UMTS.